David Busch's Sony Alpha NEX-7 Guide to Digital Photography (David Busch's Digital Photography Guides)
Category: Books,Arts & Photography,Photography & Video
David Busch's Sony Alpha NEX-7 Guide to Digital Photography (David Busch's Digital Photography Guides) Details
From the Author What an incredible camera the NEX-7 is! This flagship of the Sony Alpha NEX line shares many features with earlier models, but I decided it was important to write this book exclusively for the NEX-7. Clearly, this camera is an enthusiast model, and deserves a book written for both beginners and more advanced photographers. But what if you're not an enthusiast -- but hope to become one, or simply want to take better pictures? In that case, you really need this book to show exactly how to use every feature and option of the NEX-7. If you're in love with photography, but so far haven't been in love with learning to use cameras, let me help you get the most from your NEX-7. My Sony NEX-7 Guide to Digital Photography is divided into four parts. Part I, "Getting Started with your Sony Alpha NEX-7" includes chapters that will help you set up your camera, start shooting great pictures and movies in minutes, and explain each control, button, and dial, and how to use them. I guide you through every menu option and offer advice on what each does -- or does not do -- and when you should, or should not, use a particular setting. Rather than simply re-hash the Sony manual, I provide a wealth of useful tips. Part II, "Beyond the Basics," has chapters that show you how to use the NEX-7's amazing exposure modes, including Sweep Panorama and 3D Sweep Panorama. There's an entire section on using the camera's autofocus to get sharp images every time. In Part III, "Advanced Tools" The NEX-7's movie-making capabilities take you to the next level, and I've written a full chapter on the camera's video features, with plenty of shooting tips for those new to movie shooting. Another chapter shows you how to choose and use lenses, with an analysis and review of the most important lenses available for the NEX-7. I include a full-page focus chart you can use when fine-tuning autofocus using the AF Micro Adjust feature with the LA-EA2 Mount adapter. There's a chapter on working with available light and flash, too. Read Part IV, "Enhancing Your Experience," to pick up tips for choosing software for your NEX-7, and a chapter on troubleshooting and maintaining your camera. The software advice is strictly an overview; I don't pad this book out with Photoshop how-to lessons that show you how to correct mistakes you made while shooting. This entire book is dedicated to helping you get the shot you want in the camera. Whether you're a dSLR owner who is switching to the Sony Alpha NEX-7, a would-be enthusiast who wants to learn all of the camera's great features, or a beginner who wants to learn the basics of photography while mastering the camera, sit down with me and we'll explore this camera together. You're in for a great ride! Read more About the Author With more than a 1.5 million books in print, David D. Busch is the world's #1 selling digital camera guide author, and the originator of popular series like David Busch's Pro Secrets, David Busch's Compact Field Guides, and David Busch's Quick Snap Guides. He has written dozens of hugely successful guidebooks for digital camera models, including the all-time #1 best-sellers for many Sony models, additional user guides for other camera models, as well as many popular books devoted to digital cameras, including Mastering Digital SLR Photography, Third Edition and Digital SLR Pro Secrets.As a roving photojournalist for more than 20 years, he illustrated his books, magazine articles, and newspaper reports with award-winning images. He's operated his own commercial studio, suffocated in formal dress while shooting weddings-for-hire, and shot sports for a daily newspaper and upstate New York college. His articles and photographs have appeared in Popular Photography & Imaging, The Rangefinder, The Professional Photographer, and hundreds of other publications. He's also reviewed dozens of digital cameras for CNet and Computer Shopper, and his advice has been featured on NPR's All Tech Considered. Read more
Reviews
If you purchased the NEX-7 and have previously used a Canon or Nikon SLR, then you soon realize the menu system and shortcuts are a new language from Sony. The NEX manual is quite clear, but very brief. David Busch does a great job of explaining all the little details and aspects of the camera in laymen's terms with great explanations of the HDR settings, lenses, and video that the OEM manual lacks.However, the overall book seems to be an addendum to the Sony manual and not an everyday shooter's reference. There are nearly zero recommended settings for specific applications and this camera has an overwhelming amount of selections. I was expecting how best to set up the camera for specific scenarios in order to maximize the potential outcome. There are some recommendations, but far too little.And the most absent part for me was the lack (or should I say mistake) of a full Custom Settings selection. Chapter 2 refers to many more "fun things you can do" in Chapter 3, but Chapter 3 has only one short paragraph which refers back to Chapter 2. And as you find on the NEX, some items are grayed out and cannot be selected to change until the prerequisite setting or mode is selected first. David missed what these prerequisites are in the description so the user must painstakingly hunt for it.I want a book that can provide an expert photographer's thoughts on how best to set up the camera to perform best in various shots but also improve on the user's interface with the camera and minimize hunting for the setting that is needed. Suggest that a section be devoted to the optimum setup for the everyday family shooter, the naturalist photographer, the street shot addict, the serious photographer, etc. Each setup would be most ideal and quick access to the settings they require most.
